Consolidated PBY Catalina | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from Kuujjuarapik Airport, a propeller oversped and the crew was unable to feather it. The captain decided to return for an emergency landing but on descent, a unsafe gear indication forced him to 'delay' the landing and to overshoot. Due to insufficient speed, the airplane stalled, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Kuujjuarapik. All 16 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Monaco

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1972 at 1240 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

James E. Stewart

Registration:

N190

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Marseille - Monaco

MSN:

1584

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

22000

Captain / Total hours on type:

11800.00

Circumstances:

Upon landing in the Mediterranean Sea off Monaco, the seaplane apparently suffered a structural failure, broke into several parts and sank. All five occupants (the owner, his wife, a friend and two pilots) were rescued.

Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated CA-10A-1 Catalina near Humaitá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1972 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

6514

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Humaitá - Manaus

MSN:

1917

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Humaitá to Manaus, both engines failed simultaneously. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a wooded area (jungle) located about 80 km northeast of Humaitá. A passenger and a crew member were killed while eight other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure apparently caused by a faulty fuel supply system.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Pine Point: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Field Aviation

Registration:

CF-HTN

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Hay River - Hay River

MSN:

1637

YOM:

1944

Location:

Pine Point

Northwest Territories

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The Catalina departed Hay River with two pilots on a firefighting mission in the region of Pine Point. While flying at low height, circling around the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed in the same area, the Catalina collided with a Norcanair Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso registered CF-IDS. Two pilots were on board the Canso and were also engaged in a firefighting mission. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed and were destroyed, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Stewart-Davis PBY-5A Super Catalina in Christiansted

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1970 at 0803 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

N5584V

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Charlotte Amalie – Christiansted

MSN:

1846

YOM:

1944

Location:

Christiansted-Henry E. Rohlsen (ex Alexander Hamilton)

All US Virgin Islands

Country:

US Virgin Islands

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching the seaplane base of Christiansted, the crew suspected technical problems with the undercarriage and decided to divert to Christiansted-Alexander Hamilton Airport. Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed and the seaplane came to rest. While both pilots were uninjured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left main gear upon landing due to the failure of the upper end hydraulic actuator. The following factors were reported:
- Landing gear failure,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Corrosion,
- Improper maintenance of the aircraft on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Precautionary landing on airport following a suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Gear overdue 1,700 hours overhaul by 801 hours.

Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina in Columbia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1970 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

N6459C

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Columbia - Columbia

MSN:

2017

YOM:

1943

Location:

Columbia

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13532

Captain / Total hours on type:

1202.00

Circumstances:

Following a firefighting mission, the crew was returning to Columbia Airport when, on final approach, the airplane was too low and struck a rocky wall located about 252 feet short of runway threshold. The airplane crashed and was destroyed. Both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The crew misjudged the distance, speed and altitude on final approach, causing the aircraft to struck the ground and to crash. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Downwind,
- High temperature,
- Terrain,
- The crew made a 360 turn at low altitude,
- Hit granite boulders 252 feet short of runway, five feet below the runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Shawnigan Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1968 at 2045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

The Flying Fireman

Registration:

CF-FFY

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Victoria - Victoria

MSN:

1842

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission in Jarvis Lake on behalf of the BC Forest Service. While flying at low height, the airplane struck trees and crashed. Both pilots Thomas Swanson and Tom Worley were killed.

Probable cause:

Misjudgement of altitude on part of the crew.

Crash of a Consolidated C-10A Catalina near Guajará-Mirim: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1968 at 1717 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

6521

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Forte Principe da Beira – Guajará-Mirim

MSN:

1784

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The seaplane was completing a flight from Forte Principe da Beira to Guajará-Mirim within Rondônia State on behalf of the Correio Nacional. While approaching Guajará-Mirim, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a jungle located 40 km from its intended destination. The wreckage was found two days later and 19 people were evacuated to local hospital while four others were killed in the accident.

Probable cause:

Engine problems in flight.